Holding device for side boards in ingot molds

ABSTRACT

A pair of holding devices for side boards in ingot molds are disclosed as expendible metal members capable of being wedged between a pair of side boards in the upper end of an ingot mold so as to hold the same against floating and simultaneously engage and hold a second pair of side boards in the upper end of the ingot mold positioned at right angles to the first pair. The holding devices are self-tensioning spring like rods with serrated clips attached thereto for engaging the side boards.

United States Patent LaBate ]*Sept. 23, 1975 [54] H L NG D I R SIDE BOARDS 1 3.261.058 7/1966 Tisdale 249/202 INGOT MOLDS 3.362.677 l/l968 Folberth 249/202 3.432.138 3/1969 Shephard c1211.... 249/106 1 lnvemori James LaBaie, pp Park 3.540.689 11/1970 LaBate 249/106 Rd., Beaver Falls, Pa. 15010 Notice: The portion of the term of this Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin patent subsequent to Nov. 12, 1991, Attorney, Agent, or FirmWebster B. Harpman has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT FN- 3 A pair of holding devices for side boards in ingot molds are disclosed as expendible metal members ca- [52 0.8. 01. 249/202; 248/351 Pab'e being wedged between a Pair of Side boards [51 Int. Cl. B221) 7/10 in the upper end of ingot mold as to hold the 58 Field Of Search 249/106, 197402; Same against floating and Simultaneously engage and 248/351 354 P 354 R, S 354 C 357; hold a second pair of side boards in the upper end of 29/235 the ingot mold positioned at right angles to the first [56] References Cited lpair. T516 hollding deg ices are seLf-gengioningfspring 1 e ro s wit serrate c 1ps attac e t ereto or en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gaging the Side boards 2.921.772 l/l960 Boyd 248/354 S X 3.106 001 10/1963 Charman et a1. 249/202 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975

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HOLDING DEVICE FOR SIDE BOARDS IN INGOT MOLDS i BACKGROUND OF THEIINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to ingot molds and temperature controlling side boards or inserts therefor and holding devices for positioning and securing the side boards or inserts in desired position in the ingot mold.

2. Description of the Prior Art I Prior structures of this type have comprised support rods positioned across the top of the ingot mold so as to suspend the inserts or side boards in the ingot mold. Other devices position metal members in the side boards forming means for engagement with the molten metal'introduced' therein as in US Pat. No. 3,103,045. Simple bars positioned between side boards and holding the same by frictional engagement in an ingot mold are disclosed in US. Pat.- Nos. 3,432,138 and 3,606,240. Still other examples of the prior art structures are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,627,427, 3,391,896, 3,178,783 and 3,165,798.

This application discloses an improvement in the art with respect to the devices disclosed in my co-pending applications for patents on SELF-WEDGING DE- VICES FOR SIDE BOARDS IN INGOT MOLDS and ADJUSTABLE SELF-WEDGING DEVICES FOR SIDE BOARDS IN INGOT MOLDS, Ser. Nos. 411,794 and 411,348 respectively, filed Nov. 1, 1973 and Oct. 31, 1973 respectively.

This invention provides a holding device which is easily installed in an ingot mold to hold the side boards or inserts therein and which device will hold the same firmly in position despite irregularities in the dimensions of the ingot mold and/or the side boards or inserts. In particular this invention discloses a holding device with improved tensioning structure insuring positive positioning and holding of the side boards or inserts in the ingot mold.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Holding devices for side boards in ingot molds comprise a pair of elongated, expendible, rod-like metal members having U-shaped configurations inwardly of their ends and angularly disposed, serrated metal clips attached to their ends and extending therebeyond in the same direction as the U-shaped configurations heretofore described. A pair of the holding devices when positioned against side boards or inserts in the upper open end of an ingot mold will hold the same with the desired degree of tension against the ingot mold prior to and during the pouring of an ingot therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective elevation of one of a pair of holding devices for side boards in ingot molds;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view ofa portion of an ingot mold with side boards positioned therein and one of the devices of the invention positioned partially in place therein;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view ofa portion of an ingot mold having side boards positioned therein and showing one of a pair of the holding devices of the invention in fixed final position therein engaging and holding the side boards engaged thereby.

DIESCRIPTION'OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In their preferred form and arrangement the holding devices for side-boards in ingot molds disclosed herein comprise a duplicate pair, one of which is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 1 of the drawings. By referring thereto it will be seen that it consists of an elongated, rod-like metal body member- 10 having a U-shaped configuration 11 midway between its ends and a pair of metalclips '12 attached to the ends thereof. The metal clips 12 have projecting points 13 extending therefrom irithe direction opposite to the direction of' the U- shaped'configuration 11 and angularly disposed, outwardly extending portions 14, each of which has a pair of spaced, parallel, serrated flanges 15.formed thereon. The portions l4-are angularly disposed with respect to themetalclips 12 and capable of-beingdistorted as by bending the same transversely.

-By referring-now to FIG. B2 of the drawings, a portion of an ingot mold M maybe seen with side boards S positioned therein as will be understood by those skilled in the art, and one of the holding devices of this invention may be seen positioned partially in place against two of the side boards S in the open upper end of the ingot mold M. The holding device is shown in its initial position prior to final setting and it will be observed that one end of the device as seen in FIG. 2 has been positioned in closely spaced relation to one of the corners of the ingot mold with the serrated flanges 15 engaged against the oppositely disposed side boards S.

By referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the other of the pair of holding devices will be seen to be finally positioned in the ingot mold M with the serrated flanges 15 of the clips 12 and the points 13 thereof engaging the respective side boards S and firmly holding the same in desired position against the inner walls of the ingot mold M. It will be observed that the final positioning of the holding devices requires the distortion of the portions 14 of the metal clips 12 as well as some tensioning of the U-shaped configuration 11 of the rodlike metal member 10.

It will further be observed that the U-shaped configuration 11 provides a convenient extending portion by which the holding devices may be held as for example by a tool and positioned forcefully in the ingot mold. It will further be seen that when molten metal is poured in the ingot mold and rises up into the area of the side boards S being held by the devices described herein the same will not float and the expendible holding devices will freeze in the molten metal which will cool very rapidly thereabout and thereby additionally insure the retention of the side boards in the desired positioning in the ingot mold.

Those skilled in the art will observe that when the side boards contain exothermic materials the temperature of the metal is desirably controlled thereby and the positioning of the side boards is thus essential to the proper pouring and the desirable formation of the ingot in the ingot molds. The side boards with which the holding devices are used are consumable and as hereinbefore noted the devices themselves are expendible as the metal thereof becomes part of the ingot being poured. The holding devices for side boards in ingot molds as disclosed herein provide relatively easy and fast positioning of the side boards in the ingot molds and insure their proper positioning and retention during the subsequent pouring of an ingot in the ingot mold. I

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. Holding devices for side boards in a rectangular configuration in ingot molds comprising a pair of rodlike metal members, U-shaped tensioning configurations in each of said rod-like metal members inwardly from the ends thereof, metal clips attached to the end of said rod-like metal members, perpendicular points on said clips, outwardly extending distortable sections on said clips, sharp pointed portions extending outwardly on each of said distortable sections, said pointed portions arranged to'be embedded in oppositely disposed side boards when said rod-like metal members are forcibly positioned therebetween with said points on said clips engaging other side boards positioned in vsaid ingot mold so as to hold the same in position therein.-

2. The holding devices of claim 1 wherein each of the metal clips has two U-shaped sections spaced with respect to one another by an interconnecting distortable portion with at least one of said sections having spaced parallel edges and serrations on said edges defining said pointed portions for engagement in said oppositely disposed Sideboards.

'3. The holding devices of claim 2 and wherein the metal clips are formed of resilient metal and are transversely flat between said U-shaped sections.

4. The holding devices of claim 2 and wherein one of the U-shaped sections of each of the metal clips is en- 

1. Holding devices for side boards In a rectangular configuration in ingot molds comprising a pair of rod-like metal members, U-shaped tensioning configurations in each of said rodlike metal members inwardly from the ends thereof, metal clips attached to the end of said rod-like metal members, perpendicular points on said clips, outwardly extending distortable sections on said clips, sharp pointed portions extending outwardly on each of said distortable sections, said pointed portions arranged to be embedded in oppositely disposed side boards when said rod-like metal members are forcibly positioned therebetween with said points on said clips engaging other side boards positioned in said ingot mold so as to hold the same in position therein.
 2. The holding devices of claim 1 wherein each of the metal clips has two U-shaped sections spaced with respect to one another by an interconnecting distortable portion with at least one of said sections having spaced parallel edges and serrations on said edges defining said pointed portions for engagement in said oppositely disposed side boards.
 3. The holding devices of claim 2 and wherein the metal clips are formed of resilient metal and are transversely flat between said U-shaped sections.
 4. The holding devices of claim 2 and wherein one of the U-shaped sections of each of the metal clips is engaged on the rod-like metal members and welded thereto.
 5. The holding devices of claim 1 and wherein the rod like members are resilient.
 6. The holding devices of claim 1 wherein the rod like members are resilient cross sectionally round rods. 